Report for 1998 - 99 (July 01, 1998 - June 30, 1999)

Meetings: General : 2 (30.1.99 and 19.6.99); Executive Committee: 10

Poya Day Programme: Under this Programme, which we started in May 1997, workshops are conducted on the religious, ethical, environmental and health significance of a plant-based diet. By the end of June 1999 we had conducted 36 such seminars at Buddhist temples at Bellanwila, Gangodawila, Maharagama, Biyagama (2), Kelaniya, Etul Kotte, Battaramulla, Jayawadanagama, Rajagiriya, Pelawatta, Pamunugama, Wadduwa, Panadura, Pannipitiya, Kalalgoda, Pamankada, Kesbewa, Udumulla, Meewanapalana, Kuda Uduwa, Pitumpe, Pallegama, Marawa, Tunbowila, Nampamunuwa, Arawwala, Mirigama (3), Raddolugama, Polpitimukalana, Kindelpitiya, Olaboduwa and Veediyagoda. We are grateful to Exco Member Mr. Chandika Weragala for regularly providing transport to the teams of volunteers who conducted this programme.

Lectures on Vegetarianism: President Prof. Mahinda Palihwadana: 12.9.98 at Theosophical Society, Wellawatta; 20.12.98 at YMBA, Borella; 24.1.99 at 4/10, Weilkadawatta, Rajagiriya Vice President Dr Praneeth Abhayasundara: 28.5.99 and 28.6.99 at Library for Buddhist Research, Gangodawila; 28.5.99 at Purvaramaya, Pettah; Buddhist Institute, Mount Lavinia and Vivekasramaya, Mirihana Jt. Secretary Mr Saman Chandra Ranasinghe: 25.6.99 at Vidyaraja Maha Vidyalaya, Hokandara

Religious Discussions on Vegetarianism: 16.5.99 at Eksat Subasadhaka Samitiya, Nawinna, 17.5.99 at Raja Maha Viharaya, Nawinna- directed by Ven. Maduruoye Dhammissara

Media Events: ITN ran a programme on Vegetarianism in which SLVS participated. SLVS participated in a New Year Program on SLBC which included discussions of Vegetarian issues. 12 articles dealing with various aspects of vegetarianism and factory farming written by SLVS President were published in national newspapers (Daily News, Island, Sunday Times, Divaina) during the year.

Leaflets on Vegetarianism: Nine pamphlets on ethical, historical and health aspects of vegetarianism and animal welfare were published during the year. English titles included “May All Beings Be Happy”, “Man by Nature is a Vegetarian, Not a Flesh Eater” and “Story of the Broiler Chick”. More than 70,000 of these pamphlets were distributed among the public at the Poya Day Seminars and also by other means. Some of these pamphlets were reprinted with our permission by several organisations and individuals. We are greatly beholden to Exco member Mr Dayananda Adikaram for bearing much of the cost of printing these pamphlets.

Society News Magazine Mituru Lova: The magazine was published on schedule once every four months. Magazine sales accounted for over Rs 39000 of the income of the Society during the year under review.

Vege Cookery Demonstration: Plenty Foods (Private) conducted a demonstration of vegetarian cookery using their Soya products immediately after the General Meeting of 30.1.99. We are thankful to the company for accommodating our request for such a demonstration.

Proposed Halal Bill: SLVS joined hands with other Ahimsa and Animal Welfare groups to lodge a strong protest at the reported proposal of the government to introduce a bill in parliament to accord legal recognition to the practice of Halal slaughter in Sri Lanka. The government appears to have withdrawn the draft bill in response to these protests - a rare victory for the cause of animal rights in our country.

33rd World Vegetarian Congress: The International Vegetarian Union, of which SLVS is a member, held its biennial World Vegetarian Congress at Chiang Mai in Thailand in January 1999. We are happy that we were able to be represented at this important event in the world vegetarian movement, thanks to Exco member Mrs Bandu Masakorala, who undertook to proceed to Thailand entirely at her own expense. She gave a brief talk on the status of vegetarianism in Sri Lanka at the Congress. This may be the first time that a Sri Lankan vegetarian society was represented at an IVU gathering in its 91 year old history.

Opening of a Savings Account for SLVS: On a proposal adopted by the Executive Committee, a Savings Account was opened at the Maharagama Branch of the Bank of Ceylon, as a measure to partly ensure the financial stability of the Society. A sum of Rs 21,700 was lying to the credit of the Society in this account as at 30.6.99.

Death of Former Secretary Mr Dharmadasa Wijemanne: It is with deep regret that we record the passing away on 12. 3.99 of Mr Dharmadasa Wijemanne, Secretary of the Society from July 1997 to February 1998 . Members will recall the great interest that Mr. Wijemanne took to revamp the Society in the early part of 1997. A condolence vote was passed on his death at the General Meeting of 19.6.99 and the Society’s sympathies were conveyed to Mrs. Wijemanne and other members of the family.

Our Thanks: We are deeply grateful to all members of our Executive Committee for the ungrudging co-operation given by them in all activities of the Society, to Mrs Padmini Fonseka, Principal of Anula Nursery School and other members of her staff for graciously allowing us to use the school hall for all our meetings, to Mr. S.B.A.M.P. Weerawardane, Treasurer of Krishnamurti Centre of Sri Lanka, for unfailingly giving us every support whenever the need arose and to Mr. Uditha Palihakkara, Senior Accountant of Sri Lanka and Life Member of SLVS for once again coming forward to audit our accounts as a gesture of solidarity with the vegetarian movement, of which he is a firm supporter.

Saman Chandra Ranasinghe/Chanaka Amaratunga, Mahinda Palihawadana, Manoj Krishantha Perera, Joint Secretaries, President,Treasurer